| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | New Year's Day | National |
| 2026-01-15 | General Elections | National |
| 2026-01-16 | General Elections | National |
| 2026-01-26 | NRM Liberation Day | National |
| 2026-02-16 | Archbishop Janani Luwum Day | National |
| 2026-03-08 | Women's Day | National |
| 2026-03-20 | Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | National |
| 2026-04-03 | Good Friday | National |
| 2026-04-06 | Easter Monday | National |
| 2026-05-01 | Labour Day | National |
| 2026-05-27 | Eid al-Adha (estimated) | National |
| 2026-06-03 | Uganda Martyrs' Day | National |
| 2026-06-09 | National Heroes' Day | National |
| 2026-10-09 | Independence Day | National |
| 2026-12-25 | Christmas Day | National |
| 2026-12-26 | Boxing Day | National |
How many public holidays does Uganda have in 2026?
Uganda has 16 public holidays in 2026: 16 national holidays. The dates run from 1 January 2026 to 26 December 2026, and no public holiday falls in July, August, September, November. Observances and regional holidays are listed separately and are not counted.
Wondering how that stacks up globally? See how Uganda's public holiday count compares.
Long weekends in Uganda 2026
Uganda's public holidays create 8 long weekends in 2026 - runs of three or more consecutive days off, each built around a holiday that touches a weekend.
- Thu 15 - Sun 18 January: General Elections (4-day weekend, Thursday 15 January to Sunday 18 January).
- Sat 24 - Mon 26 January: NRM Liberation Day (3-day weekend, Saturday 24 January to Monday 26 January).
- Sat 14 - Mon 16 February: Archbishop Janani Luwum Day (3-day weekend, Saturday 14 February to Monday 16 February).
- Fri 20 - Sun 22 March: Eid al-Fitr (estimated) (3-day weekend, Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March).
- Fri 3 - Mon 6 April: Good Friday (4-day weekend, Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April).
- Fri 1 - Sun 3 May: Labour Day (3-day weekend, Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May).
- Fri 9 - Sun 11 October: Independence Day (3-day weekend, Friday 9 October to Sunday 11 October).
- Fri 25 - Sun 27 December: Christmas Day (3-day weekend, Friday 25 December to Sunday 27 December).
Observed and substitute holidays in Uganda 2026
A substitute holiday is a day off moved to a nearby working weekday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The legal date never changes - only the day most people actually get off.
In 2026 no public holiday in Uganda is moved to a nearby weekday, so every holiday in the table above is observed on the date shown.
Regional variations are common; see public holidays across Africa for the wider picture.
Public holidays in Uganda: is your date a holiday in 2026?
Every date in the table above is a public holiday in Uganda in 2026. If the date you are checking appears there, it is a day off; if it does not, it is not a public holiday - however widely it may be marked.
For example, 1 January 2026 is New Year's Day, a public holiday in Uganda.
More to explore: browse public holidays by country.
About these holidays in Uganda (2026)
Our Uganda public holidays guide explains the background of each holiday and how the dates are set.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day falls on 1 January and opens the Gregorian calendar year. Most countries mark it with a public holiday, and celebrations usually begin the night before with countdowns, fireworks and gatherings. The date was fixed in its current position by Julius Caesar's calendar reform, and later preserved by the Gregorian reform of 1582. traditions vary widely, from first-footing in Scotland to writing resolutions for the months ahead.
Women's Day
Women's Day is celebrated on 8 March as International Women's Day, recognising the achievements of women and campaigning for gender equality. It developed from early twentieth century labour and suffrage movements in Europe and North America and was formally adopted by the United Nations in 1975. In a number of countries it is a public holiday, and it is traditional to give flowers and small gifts to women.
Eid al-Fitr (estimated)
Eid al-Fitr is the festival that ends Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and begins on the first day of Shawwal. It is a two or three day public holiday across much of the Muslim world. The date depends on the sighting of the new moon, so published calendars mark it as estimated until it is confirmed. Families gather for prayer, shared meals and charitable giving before the fast was broken each evening of Ramadan.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter and commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a public holiday in most countries with Christian traditions, and businesses, banks and schools often close. Observance is typically solemn, with church services, processions and in some places Passion plays. The date moves each year because Easter is calculated from the first full moon following the March equinox.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and forms the final day of the Easter octave in Western Christianity. It is a public holiday in many European, Commonwealth and Latin American countries, effectively extending the Easter weekend. Because it is tied to the movable date of Easter, it falls between late March and late April. Traditional customs include egg rolling, picnics and family outings.